Northern Mariana Islands legalize cannabis

Since the beginning of the year, the proposed law was being shuttled back and forth between the Senate and the House of Representatives. All that remained was Governor Raph Delgado Torres' signature. Last Friday, he signed the document making both recreational and medical cannabis legal.

«Today our people are making history,» said the governor. «We have decided to legalize cannabis, for recreational, medical and commercial use in the autonomous territory of the Mariana Islands».

A historic first, perhaps two or even three

The archipelago is an autonomous territory under US jurisdiction, located in the northern Pacific Ocean. It has a population of just 50,000. It is the first American overseas territory to legalize cannabis. It is also the first state to move directly from prohibition to full legalization. And it's the first U.S. territory to legalize legal sales through legislators rather than a popular vote. This is all the more surprising given that both legislative chambers are predominantly Republican, Republicans being traditionally less open on cannabis issues.

Co-founder of pro-cannabis lobby group Sensitive CNMI welcomed the announcement I'm proud of our government, our citizens and our national organization for working together to intelligently develop and approve progressive legislation that will improve the quality of life for many (...) Together, we're telling the world that we don't want our citizens to be stigmatized and criminalized for responsible, adult-use cannabis, and that we don't want them to be denied access to this sometimes life-saving medicine any longer.«.

The law in question

Under the new law, citizens will be able to possess up to 28 grams of cannabis, 142 grams of cannabis extracts, 454 grams of infused cannabis and up to 2 kilos if the infusion is liquid. Those wishing to grow their own plants will have to register with the Homegrown Marijuana. They will be allowed to grow 6 adult plants and 12 immature plants for personal consumption. Patients will be allowed to grow twice as much if they can prove that they are using it as medicine. Consumers must, of course, be over 21 years of age.

Six different types of license will be granted to cannabis entrepreneurs, depending on their activity, from production to sales. Stores will be able to sell cannabis-derived products. For the time being, the new Mariana Islands law is one of the most permissive laws on cannabis. However, the law has not yet reached its final status and will be amended. The governor expressed his concern by public safety issues, and would like legislators to strengthen certain aspects of the law: «We'll make sure that the industry is properly regulated. We want to do the right thing, and I expect legislators to send me a complementary text indicating recommendations for strengthening the safety and health aspects of this law».

Before cannabis is available for sale and consumption, the government must put regulations in place. It has exactly 30 days to set up a Cannabis Commission, which in turn will have 180 days to create and promulgate regulations. These regulations will take effect 10 days after their adoption and publication.